India’s
Defence Procurements

(Updated up to 28 February 2003)

The list below was compiled from
various media reports and press releases and contains the main
items being procured, on offer or planned by the Indian
Defence Forces. Although every care has been taken to compile
the data as accurately as possible, we take no responsibility
for the authenticity of the list.

Sl
No

Item

Quantity

Cost

1.

Scorpene Submarines Type-75. To be built by Mazagon Docks (MDL),
Mumbai. The contract is being concluded with the French
Government and Thales and subcontracted to DCN, which has
signed a transfer of technology agreement with MDL. MESMA is
an option only.

Six

US$
1.5 billion

2.

37,500 tons Air Defence Ship
(Aircraft Carrier). To be built at Cochin Shipyard. Foreign
yards have been invited for collaboration for final drawings.
MiG 29K aircraft under consideration. (Approx 1000 tons
accommodates one aircraft.)Advance to CSL paid.

One

US$
700 million

3.

Aircraft Carrier Gorshkov. Will be refitted in Russia
Provision for Helicopters and MiG 29K aircraft with Su-30 MK I
type of Cockpit, at an additional cost of around $800 million.
Price negotiations for Gorshkov only are nearing completion..

One

US$
600 million

4.

SU-30MKI. aircraft ordered from IAPO (Russia) and
subsequent manufacture of 140 more by HAL in India. 18 already
supplied will go back to Russia for upgrading and 30 are under
supply progressively from June 2002. No 24 Squadron
commissioned at Pune

190
Nos.

US$
2.5 billion.

5.

Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT). The IAF has long pressed for
procurement of an initial 66 AJTs and later 11 AJTs for the
India Navy. BAe is close to clinching the deal for the
HAWK-115 though L159 from Czechoslovakia and MIG AT new
designs are also pressing to be considered.As per Defence Minister’s latest statement at AA2003
(Feb 03) the matter is with the cabinet.

66
Nos.

$1.38
billion

6.

Mid–life avionics upgrade of IAF fleet of 120 SEPECAT/HAL-built
Jaguars and 165 ANPK MIG/HAL-built MiG-27 M strike aircraft,
and 65 MiG–29B-12 air superiority fighters by HAL. MIG 21
Bison under going upgrading with Israeli Head up displays and
French Avionics.

125
MiG bis

Approx

US$
2 million per MiG 21

7.

Light Combat Aircraft –– Two LCA (TDI and TD2)
prototypes completed some flights but the LCA is a long way
away with many imponderables. Procurement of 40 GE engines and
spending on avionics will continue. 8 series production on
order on HAL. Martin Baker ejection seats selected.

8
Series

Approx

Rs
2000 crores plus Rs 120 crores per piece.

8.

Two IL-76 based A-50 AEW & C aircraft, and six IL-78
aerial refueling tankers ordered. Former Air Chief ACM AY
Tipnis had witnessed trials as VCAS in October 2001 at the
Kubinka air base near Moscow and the Phalcon system is
planned. (Note: Two IL-78 are being taken over by RM George
Fernandes and VCAS Air Marshal Michael Mc Mahon around 28th
Feb in Uzbekistan.) .

2
× IL-76 &

6
× IL-78 refuellers

Approx
US $388 million

9.

Mirage 2000 V Aircraft –– One squadron (18 aircraft) of
Dassault Aviation Mirage 2000D tandem-seat fighter-bombers
“hard wired” for carrying nuclear missiles as part of
minimum nuclear deterrent, are on offer. Media reports IAF has
asked for more Mirages if the LCA is delayed. India is already
buying French avionics equipment from Sextant and Sagem for
the IAF upgrades.

18
Nos.

Mirage
V costs exceed US$ 40 million per piece

10.

Mirage 2000 TH –– Ten additional aircraft to replace
accident losses and as part of the War Wastage Reserve (WWR)
are due to arrive in 2003/2004.Part paidfor .

ANTPQS 37Fire
Finder radars from Raytheon under FMS. Two released by US
Army. Media reports one NRI’s company Alex Technologies has
demanded that it be associated with the deal.

12
sets

Approx
US $200 mill

13.

MRBLs. One battery of BM 9A52 Smerch 300 mm multiple-barrel
rocket launchers. Trials are in progress and will augment the
GRAD M that were used with great effect in the Kargil war.
(The DRDO’s 12 barreled Pinaka is under trials and is still
low powered and slow.)

One
battery

Not
known

14.

Howitzers.
Up to 200 Bofors-type FH-77B 155 mm self-propelled howitzers
to add to the 310 units bought off-the-shelf in 1986. Bids
from South Africa, France and Israel have been reported in
that order for the imminent final order.

200

US$
250 million

15.

Ammunition
––120mm, 130mm, 155mm and 160mm ammo have been procured
from Israel and South Africa. Some were destroyed in recent
fires in ammunition depots and procurement continues. Ordnance
depots to be upgraded.

Self-propelled howitzers –– Possibility of acquiring
120, each comprising a Denel/LIW-built T-6 turret containing a
155mm/520 calibre gun and mounted on the Arjun MBT’s
armoured hull. The system, called Bhim had achieved a
sustained rate of fire of 16 rounds at a desert firing range
in Pokhran in western India. Not much is known of the
progress.

120
Nos.

Not
known

18.

T-90 MBTs with the Reflecks anti tank missile and B 31
diesel engine. 80 units have arrived. This deal for import of
120 and local production at Avadi for the balance has been
finalized, and special vehicles like the BREM 1 and 1MR 2 MA
will come with them from Uralgrad Zavod.

New landmine-resistant armoured vehicles under
consideration to augment 90 Cassipir trucks already imported
from South Africa.

150
Nos.

US$
14 million

21

Radars –– Four Zoopark 2 counter-battery radars and S
300 PMU1 low to high altitude systems from Russia are on offer
. Also Green Pine radar from Israel and Arrow in discussions .
Israeli media reported Green Pine supplies have begun and
could be for DRDO. Additionally up to 150 S-300 V
anti-ballistic missile launchers and their related command and
control systems, along with the Israeli ‘Green Pine’
ballistic missile Arrow and early warning radar system are
under consideration.

UAVs –– Up to two additional squadrons IAI Malat built
Searcher Mk II/Heron Aerial Vehicles and their ground control
units from Israel, for landing accurate fire on enemy gun
positions in the battlefield. The Searcher MkII has a height
ceiling of nearly 30,000 feet. Army, Navy and IAF units are
beingprovided
with these UAVs progressively. Navy will get Heron with
Maritime radar.

2
squadrons

US
$46.5 million

26.

2S6 Tunguska M-1 mobile gun/missile V-SHORADS type systems
indicating importance of Air Defence for the Army and IAF.
Most of which have arrived and displayed at Republic Day .
Navy to get equivalent

Kashtanon the
Krivacks.

45
Nos.

Not
known

27.

VY-72 B ARVs from ZTS Tees Martin of Slovakia and 42 WZT-3
ARVs, built by Bumar–Labedy, from CENZIN of Poland. Public
Sector Bharat Earth Movers Ltd will build another 400 such
vehicles.

155
Nos. &

42
Nos.

US$
723,000 each

28.

Poland is to supply T-72 Fire Control upgrades for first
lot of 250 tanks.

250
Nos.

Not
known

29.

India has an on going contract with Soltam of Israel to
upgrade an initial 35 Soviet-supplied M-46 130 mm field guns
to 155 mm/45-calibre. A further 550 M–46 will be upgraded by
India’s state-owned Ordnance Factory Board.

––

US$
238,095 each

30

Warships –– Krivak III Class, Project 1135.6 guided
missile frigates Talwar, Trishul and Tabar. The ships are to
have Indian equipment and Wartsila generators etc., the
coordination of which has delayed the commissioning of the
first two to April 2003.

Three

US$
600 million

31.

Two Type 877-EKM Kilo-class SSK Submarines, plus one Amur-Class
SSK have been offered as India’s own Submarine building
programme has been slow since the HDW scandal.

––

US$
388 million

32.

Novator 3M54E Klub supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles for
the three Kilo class Subs undergoing refits –– two of them
completed progressively in Admiralty Shipyard at St
Petersburg, three Krivaks, the Sindushastra and the Type 17
frigates. The Indian Navy is truly excited about this missile
and calls it the Russian Tomahawk.

Up
to 200 Nos.

Not
known

33.

Barak anti-missile defence systems built by IAI ELTA/RAFAEL,
for installation on the Indian Navy’s carrier INS Viraat,
the INS Brahmaputra and some other ships. (as DRDO’s Trishul
SAM is delayed.)

Seven
systems

Not
known

34.

Four plus 3 Ka-31, air borne early warning helicopters, and
six Ka-28 ASW helicopters worth $18 million all of which will
be delivered progressively.

7
Ka-31

6
Ka-28

US$
25 million

35.

ANPK MiG-29 5MK carrier-borne fighters armed with Vympel
RVV-AE R-77 medium range, active radar-guided air-to-air
missiles; the R-73 E infra-red guided dogfight missiles,
Zvesda/Strella Kh-31A anti-ship and Kh-31P anti-radar
missiles; Kh-35 Uran E anti-ship missiles for the Gorshkov and
the air defence ship (ADS) to be built at Cochin. Only when
Gorshkov deal is finalized, can the design for the ADS be
frozen.

66
Nos

Not
known

36.

More IAI/MALAT’s Heron long-endurance UAVs are on offer
as DRDO’s Nishant cannot climb above 10,000 feet and is not
operational.

––

Not
known

37.

TU-142 Bear F maritime patrol/ASW aircraft armed with Alfa
and Uran-E anti-ship cruise missiles to supplement the eight
currently in service with the Indian Navy are on offer.

Six

Not
known

38.

Tuploev TU –22M3 strategic bombers, which are at the
Gorbunov-based plant in Kazan, southern Russia are on offer
and ready to be delivered from Russia’s large excess stock.

Six

Not
known

39.

Efforts have been launched by IAF to procure add-on
chaff/flare countermeasures suites and missiles approach
warning systems from ELISRA of Israel, which will be
retrofitted on to the IAF’s Mi-8T, Mi-17 and Mi-25
helicopter gunships.

––

Not
known

40.

An avionics and self-protection suite upgrade for 20 Mi-35P
and six Mi-25 helicopter gunships. This contract has gone to
IAI/Tamam

US$
25 million

41.

A comprehensive upgrade of the IAF’s 20 Mi-35 P
helicopter-gunships that includes a day/night imaging and
target designation system supplied by Elbit Computers, ELISRA,
EI Op and ELTA of Israel on offer.

––

Not
known

42.

The IAF is also expected to procure additional
laser-guidance kits for its 1,000 lb bombs from Elbit
Computers of Israel.